On this day: November 2

Gen. George Washington says goodbye to his troops, cheerleading is born, the "Spruce Goose" takes off, Truman defeats Dewey, and a federal holiday is created to honor Martin Luther King Jr., all on this day.

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Public domain

1898: University of Minnesota student Johnny Campbell leads the crowd at a football game with a cheer of "Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-u-mah, Hoo-Rah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity, Minn-e-So-Tah!" The event is recognized as the official birth date of organized cheerleading, making Campbell the very first cheerleader. Soon after, the University of Minnesota organized a "yell leader" squad of six male students, who still use Campbell's original cheer.

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